TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – As announced by the NFCA Thursday afternoon, a trio of Knights have been nationally recognized with selections to the NFCA's Division I All-Region teams.
Right-handed pitcher Sarah Willis was honored with a selection to the NFCA's Division I Mideast First Team All-Region, right-hander Grace Jewell was selected to the NFCA's Second Team All-Region, and designated player/utility Aubrey Evans was added to the NFCA's Third Team All-Region.
After a dominant season that netted the Ontario, California, native AAC Tournament Most Outstanding Player, AAC Pitcher of the Year and AAC First Team All-Conference honors, Willis can add to her resume a selection to the NFCA's First Team All-Region, becoming the 11th Knight in program history to land on the squad of NFCA All-Region first-teamers.
Entering UCF's weekend NCAA Regional tournament in Tallahassee, Willis boasts a 1.46 season ERA (138.2 IP, 29 ER) that ranks first in The American and 25th in the nation. Her 0.79 ERA (62 IP, 7 ER) in conference play also led the AAC, and she has recorded career-bests in numerous categories from the circle as well, including innings pitched, ERA, strikeouts (115, 2nd in AAC), batting average-against (.181), complete games (9) and solo shutouts (5).
In just her first year as a Knight, she managed to etch her name into the UCF record books multiple times, headlined by her seven-inning perfect game against the Houston Cougars April 28, marking the first seven-inning perfect game in Knights program history.
She also became the third UCF pitcher to win National Division I Wilson/NFCA Pitcher of the Week for her efforts against Houston, and her 1.46 ERA would rank as the ninth-lowest single-season mark in program history. Her .181 batting average-against would rank as the ninth-best mark in a single season in UCF history, as well.
Like Willis, Jewell earns her recognition on the heels of a breakout season. In her third year in a Knights uniform, the Chesapeake, Virginia, native also posted career-bests in a myriad of statistical categories, including ERA (2.19), innings pitched (121.1), strikeouts (70), saves (3, good for the team lead), batting average-against (.180), complete games (6) and solo shutouts (5).
Jewell most notably threw the 21st no-hitter in program history against then-No. 22 Arizona State March 17 in the Knights' opener of the 2023 OSU Mizuno Classic in Stillwater, Oklahoma, an effort that marked UCF's first no-hitter against a program ranked within the top 25 in the country.
Her .180 batting average-against would place her one spot ahead of Willis for eighth-place on the UCF all-time single-season list, and her five solo shutouts tie Willis for the team lead. Jewell also moved into 10th place on the UCF all-time shutouts list with six in her career, one shy of tying Taylor Sawyer's seven for ninth place all-time.
Evans broke onto the scene with an impressive freshman campaign, producing a .354 average that ranked 12th in the AAC in conference play, and her .336 season average ranks second on the team only to Chloe Evans' .343.
The freshman also brings a 22-game on-base streak into the NCAA tournament dating back to the Knights' series finale against Wichita State March 26, one game shy of tying Johneisha Rowe (23) for the longest such streak in a career by an active Knight. The Apopka, Florida, native is hitting .393/.493/.554 (22-for-56) with six doubles, one home run, 16 RBI, 31 total bases, 12 walks and three sacrifice flies in that span.
Her six doubles during the streak factor into a team- and conference-leading season total of 16, tying the single-season program record set most recently by Cassady Brewer in 2019. Aubrey's .436 on-base percentage would also rank 10th-highest in a single season in program history, tied with Natalie Land's mark from the 2011 season.
UP NEXT
The Knights commence NCAA Regional play Friday evening with a matchup against the No. 20 South Carolina Gamecocks. First pitch from Seminole Softball Complex in Tallahassee is slated for 7 p.m.